Reflections on How a University Binge Drinking Prevention Initiative Supports Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral for Student Alcohol Use

Yale J Biol Med. 2015 Sep 3;88(3):339-46. eCollection 2015 Sep.

Abstract

What's Your Cap: Know When to Put a Lid on Drinking (WYC) is a student-led and research-based binge-drinking prevention campaign at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. It was formed to encourage a culture of alcohol moderation on the university campus through peer-to-peer engagement that emphasizes promotional items and activities of interest to students. Since its development in 2011, WYC has been guided by a logic model that promotes: 1) perceived and actual student drinking norms on campus; 2) benefits of a student-led initiative; and 3) merits of working with community partners. With the release of a clinical guide in Canada for alcohol screening, brief intervention, and referral (SBIR) in 2013, WYC was prompted to consider whether it is a form of population-based SBIR. SBIR is commonly undertaken in the substance use field by health care practitioners, and this paper shares the potential for a student-based SBIR modification on a university campus.

Keywords: SBIR; alcohol; community partnerships; drinking norms; student-led initiative; university students.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Alcohol Drinking in College / psychology*
  • Binge Drinking / diagnosis
  • Binge Drinking / prevention & control*
  • Binge Drinking / psychology*
  • Female
  • Health Promotion / organization & administration*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / methods*
  • Program Evaluation
  • Referral and Consultation / organization & administration
  • Saskatchewan
  • Student Health Services / organization & administration*
  • Young Adult